Devy, her three siblings and her great-grandparents are believed to have died when their van was engulfed by the flood waters

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Ric Saldivar told ABC 13 Devy's great-uncle Sam, who was driving the van, managed to escape and had to call the children's grandparents to break the heartbreaking news

"That keeps playing in his head."

Although the family's deaths have not been officially confirmed, the authorities say Devy, her siblings Daisy, six, Xavier, eight, and Dominic, 14, are presumed dead along with their great-grandparents Manuel, 84, and Belia, 81.

Devy was in the van with her siblings Daisy, six, Xavier, eight, and Dominic, 14

AP:Associated Press

The children's great-grandparents Manuel, 84, and Belia, 81, are also believed to have perished in the horrific storms

The heartbroken grandmother paid tribute to "the sweetest kids".

She told NBC: “Devy loved animals, Starbucks and thrift store shopping. She was my sunflower, my sunshine. Xavier was the sweetest boy. He loved anything Army and playing video games.

“Daisy was our princess. She was Grandpa’s girl. She loved kittens and dressing up, and watching YouTube videos.

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A satellite image taken from the International Space Station shows Hurricane Harvey swirling above Texas

AP:Associated Press

Fifteen people are feared death as the flooding has displaced thousands of people across Texas

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Rescue workers have transported people to safety on boats as the Biblical flooding engulfed their homes

AP:Associated Press

An estimated 30,000 people will be displaced because of the heavy flooding

“Dominic was my heart. He was the most amazing, loving boy. He loved playing his trombone, watching YouTube and playing video games. He loved his family and he would defend them against anything."

A woman was crushed to death by a tree in Porter, Texas, while she was napping on Monday.

Louisiana's governor offered today to take in Harvey victims from Texas, while Houston officials open two to three more mega-shelters to accommodate people who continue to arrive at the overflowing George R. Brown Convention Center seeking refuge from the record-breaking flooding.

Louisiana's governor offered Tuesday to take in Harvey victims from Texas, while Houston officials open two to three more mega-shelters to accommodate people

AP:Associated Press

Houston is now unrecognisable after heavy flooding hit the major city

AP:Associated Press

A man tries to shelter himself from the nonstop rain as Hurricane Harvey continues to batter Texas

Gov. John Bel Edwards said he expects Texas officials to decide within 48 hours whether to accept the offer, which comes as Louisiana is also helping its own residents who were rescued from Harvey's floodwaters overnight. About 500 people were evacuated Monday night and early Tuesday from flooded neighborhoods in southwest Louisiana, and about 200 spent the night in area shelters, Edwards said.

The Houston center already held more than 9,000 people, almost twice the number officials originally planned to house there, Mayor Sylvester Turner said. The crowds included many from areas beyond Houston.

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The Houston center already held more than 9,000 people, almost twice the number officials originally planned to house there, Mayor Sylvester Turner said

"We are not turning anyone away. But it does mean we need to expand our capabilities and our capacity," Turner said. "Relief is coming."
More than 17,000 people have sought refuge in Texas shelters and that number seemed certain to increase, the American Red Cross said.

Harvey kept drenching Houston and the surrounding area. Rain fell at about half an inch per hour over Harris County home to Houston and up to 2 inches per hour to the east.

AP:Associated Press

More than 17,000 people have sought refuge in Texas shelters and that number seemed certain to increase, the American Red Cross said

AP:Associated Press

A 20-vehicle ferry crashed into a pier in Port Aransas, Texas, in the heavy storms

Forecasters expect the storm to linger over the Gulf before heading back inland east of Houston sometime Wednesday. The system will then head north and lose its tropical strength.

It could creep as far east as Mississippi by Thursday, meaning New Orleans, where Hurricane Katrina unleashed its full wrath in 2005, is in Harvey's path. Foreboding images of Harvey lit up weather radar screens early Tuesday, the 12th anniversary of the day Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish.

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